This move by Waitrose further highlights how several supermarkets are starting to listen to customers and campaigners

Dr Chris Tuckett,
MCS Director of Programmes

The supermarket says the move will save 134 million plastic bags, the equivalent of 500 tonnes of plastic a year.

The retailer made the announcement in the same week that Iceland said it was introducing plastic-free packaging for its pre-packed bananas. They’ll be held together by a paper band which the frozen food specialist claims is 100% recyclable. Iceland say it will save 10 million plastic bags a year.

Waitrose says it’s the first nationwide supermarket to remove the fruit and vegetable plastic bags and introduce, what they say is, a home compostable alternative. This will be trialled first in a small number of shops at a date to be confirmed before being rolled out in all shops by spring next year.

Tor Harris, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Health and Agriculture for Waitrose, says: “The removal of these bags will change the way our customers, many of whom have been asking us to do this, shop with us in the future. We know we still have a lot to do, but as with our commitment to removing takeaway disposable cups earlier this year, this represents another major step forward in reducing our use of plastics.”

5p single use plastic carrier bags will initially be removed from six shops - Saxmundham, Gerrards Cross, Keynsham, Dorking, Newark and East Putney from 8th October.

Dr Chris Tuckett, MCS Head of Programmes, says it’s a good result for our oceans.”This move by Waitrose further highlights how several supermarkets are starting to listen to customers and campaigners, and while there is always room to do more when it comes to unnecessary plastic packaging, this is a welcome move.”

Waitrose say bags for loose fruit and veg will be replaced by a ‘home compostable alternative’, derived from corn starch, which ‘will break down in landfill if put in a normal bin and the bags can be placed in food waste caddies or home composted.’

The MCS Great British Beach Clean which is taking place nationwide this weekend (14th-17th September) is being sponsored by Waitrose for the second year in a row – cash from their carrier bag sales in England goes towards supporting MCS’ year-round beach clean programme.